The Veteran's right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and osteochondral injury, as well as lumbosacral strain with fusion, have been granted service connection.,Left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are also granted service connection based on their relationship to the service-connected low back disability. The unspecified depressive disorder is granted service connection due to its secondary nature to the Veteran's other disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows current disabilities of right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and osteochondral injury, as well as lumbosacral strain with fusion, are related to in-service injuries. The Board finds these conditions meet the criteria for service connection.,Left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are found to be secondary to the now-service-connected low back disability. Therefore, they also meet the criteria for service connection on a secondary basis.,The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is determined to be at least as likely as not caused by pain and limitations from his service-connected right ankle and low back disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and osteochondral injury, Lumbosacral strain, status post fusion, Left lower extremity radiculopathy, Right lower extremity radiculopathy, Unspecified depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2024
- Citation
- 24003377
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,614 · Granted: 35% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 24003377.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted effective dates of July 10, 2024 for service connection for PTSD, lumbar strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Denied
The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was evaluated at a 20 percent rating, and the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the claims for psychiatric disability and sleep apnea.,Service connection was granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to a service-connected back disability, but denied for right wrist disability.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease prior to August 1, 2025 was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to March 10, 2025 were denied as there is no neurological impairment associated with these conditions.
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